Today, Keller Williams ONEChicago (“ONEChicago”), a leading residential and commercial real estate company, announced that Kelly Rich is joining as the director of investor relations for the multifamily investment advisors team led by Tony Hardy. Rich is a top-producing broker who shares the team’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and wealth-building in real estate and across Chicagoland.
Rich is a Chicagoland native who previously worked with Coldwell Banker, specializing in luxury properties, rentals, and negotiations. She was inspired to start in real estate to help people build wealth, particularly in communities of color. Rich has risen to become a competitive broker – but she is still focused on her primary goal of wealth-building.
Rich is a woman of color who started in real estate seven years ago. Historically, African Americans and Latinx brokers are underrepresented in commercial real estate. A 2017 report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) found that just three percent of NAR members working in commercial real estate are black. These statistics spotlight a significant area of opportunity in real estate.
Keller Williams has been recognized as Forbes’ “Best Company for Diversity” and “Best Employers for Women.” An Englewood native, Hardy joined Keller Williams ONEChicago in September 2020 and said that the accolades about Keller Williams’ commitment to diversity are among the many reasons he joined the company. Hardy adds that he and his team continue to look for talented brokers from all backgrounds who “represent the diversity of Chicagoland.”